Blueberry plant named &#39;BB07-7FL-4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named ‘BB07-7FL-4’ as described and shown herein. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is a new and distinct low chill tetraploid Southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium ) variety of complex ancestry, based largely on  V. corymbosum  with over 13%  V. darrowii  and small contributions of  V. angustifolium, V. tenellum, and V. ashei . ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is a productive very early season variety that ripens nearly two weeks before Star, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is intended for areas that successfully grow lower chill Southern highbush varieties. The fruit of ‘BB07-7FL-4’ are large, typically 18 mm or more in diameter with an average berry weight of 2.9 gram per berry, well exposed on a medium upright bush with a small crown. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ has very good flavor with a balanced amount of sugar and acidity and is also firm and juicy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/150,525, filed May 10, 2016, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blueberries are a well-known fruit enjoyed by many throughout the world. One example of an existing, patented blueberry variety is Springhigh, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,404. Another example of an existing, patented blueberry variety is Snowchaser, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503.

Compared to Springhigh, ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is about 5 days earlier in maturity, has a flatter shaped berry, is much lighter in color and is larger in size.

Compared to Snowchaser, ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is much larger in size, is slightly flatter shape and is much lighter in color.

The present cultivar, ‘BB07-7FL-4’, provides one or more advantages compared to these and/or other blueberry varieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a photograph taken in April, 2015, Interlachen, Fla. of the Blueberry cultivar ‘BB07-7FL-4’ showing overall appearance of the variety.

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph taken in April, 2015, Interlachen, Fla. of the Blueberry cultivar ‘BB07-7FL-4’ showing the appearance of the leaves of the variety.

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph taken in April, 2015, Interlachen, Fla. of the Blueberry cultivar ‘BB07-7FL-4’ showing a fruit cluster with ripe and unripe fruit, and also further showing the appearance of the leaves of the variety.

FIG. 4 is a second close-up photograph taken in April, 2015, Interlachen, Fla. of the Blueberry cultivar ‘BB07-7FL-4’ showing a fruit cluster with ripe and unripe fruit, and also further showing the appearance of the leaves of the variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplary observations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time of year, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptions reported herein are largely from plants 5 years of age specimen plants grown in Interlachen, Fla., Manor, Ga. and Homerville, Ga. in 2011 and further observed between 2012 and 2015.

Cultivar Name: ‘BB07-7FL-4’.

Classification:

Family: Ericaceae.

Botanical name: Vaccinium corymbosum.

Common name: Blueberry.

Parentage:

Female Parent

Name: Millennia.

U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,816.

Compared to Millennia, ‘BB07-7FL-4’ has a maturity date that is 10 days earlier. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ has a slightly rounder berry shape and darker blue color than Millennia. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ also has a slightly larger size berry and much firmer berry compared to Millennia.

Male Parent

Jewel.

U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807.

Compared to Jewel, ‘BB07-7FL-4’ matures 5 days earlier. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ has a much larger and much firmer berry than Jewel. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ has a slightly darker blue color, and a sweeter and less acidic flavor than Jewel.

‘BB07-7FL-4’ originated as a seedling selected from the cross Millennia x Jewel. The seed that gave rise to ‘BB07-7FL-4’ was produced by hand-pollination in a greenhouse in Grand Junction, Mich. in 2007, grown for one year in Grand Junction and then shipped to Interlachen, Fla. where it was planted in an observation nursery. In 2009, ‘BB07-7FL-4’ was first selected for the desirable features of early maturity, large size and excellent fruit quality and was given the designation ‘BB07-7FL-4’. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ was first propagated by vegetative cuttings for further testing in 2010. Three to five plants each were placed in advanced test plots in Interlachen, Manor, Ga. and Homerville, Ga. in 2011 and further observed between 2012 and 2015.

‘BB07-7FL-4’ was first asexually propagated from softwood cuttings in 2009 and tissue culture since 2012. In all cases the propagated plants have retained the original characteristics of the original selected plant. The variety is able to root readily from softwood cuttings or tissue culture microshoots.

All field observations were made in 2014 and 2015 on plants located in an advanced trial planting near Interlachen, Fla., from plants propagated from the original selected plant. Laboratory analyses of fruit characteristics were done in Grand Junction, Mich.

General comments: ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is a new and distinct low chill tetraploid Southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium) variety of complex ancestry, based largely on V. corymbosum with over 13% V. darrowii and small contributions of V. angustifolium, V. tenellum, and V. ashei. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is a productive very early season variety that ripens nearly two weeks before Star, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675, a University of Florida release, a widely planted midseason highbush variety. ‘Star’ is characterized as having very large fruit with a small and dry picking scar, medium light blue color and firm fruit with very good fruit quality and flavor for the fresh market. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ appears to have similar characteristics compared to ‘Star’ regarding concentrated fruit ripening, upright bush shape with a small crown and easy detachment of firm fruit for mechanical harvesting. ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is intended for areas that successfully grow lower chill Southern highbush varieties. The fruit of ‘BB07-7FL-4’ are large, typically 18 mm or more in diameter with an average berry weight of 2.9 gram per berry, well exposed on a medium upright bush with a small crown. The mean date of 50% flowering for ‘BB07-7FL-4’ is February 1 near Interlachen, Fla. Winter chill requirement for successful flowering and leafing is approximately 250 hours (<7° C.). Flowering and leafing are synchronous. The mean 50% ripening date for ‘BB07-7FL-4’ near Interlachen, Fla. is normally early April. Fruit shape is oblate with medium heavy amounts of waxy bloom that is persistent after handling: The ‘BB07-7FL-4’ variety has very good flavor with a balanced amount of sugar and acidity and is also firm and juicy. Storage ability in refrigeration can be 2 to 3 weeks long with little decline in quality.

References to color refer to The Pantone Book of Color, Eisemann and Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York, ISBN 0-8109-3711-5, 1990.

Color measurements were taken with a SpectraMagic NX Model CR410, Konica Minolta, Japan.

Morphological characteristics reference: Plant Systematics, Jones and Luchsinger, 2 Ed., McGraw Hill, New York, ISBN 0-07-032796-3, 1986.

Firmness readings: BioWorks FirmTec2, Wamena, Kans.

-   Average size information:     -   -   General description.—Medium large bush, medium upright             shape, 4 year plant 167 cm height, 147 cm width,             height/width ratio 1.14:1.         -   Growth.—Excellent vigor, strong leafing, many canes.         -   Productivity.—Very good.         -   Cold hardiness.—Leaf and flower buds −5° C., open flowers             and fruit −2° C. -   Specific features of the variety: -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Medium upright.         -   Plant width.—167 cm.         -   Plant height.—147 cm.         -   Plant spread.—167 cm.         -   Productivity.—6-7 lbs per mature bush.         -   Cold hardiness/tolerance.—Leaf and flower buds −5° C., open             flowers and fruit −2° C.         -   Chilling requirement.—250 hours below 7° C.         -   Canes.—Moderately branched, average 8 canes per bush,             average 86 cm length per cane, medium number of laterals.         -   Mature cane color.—Pantone Gray Sand 13-1010.         -   Texture.—medium rough.         -   Fruiting wood.—Smooth, immature winter color — Pantone Baked             Clay 18-1441, immature summer color — Peridot 17-0336.         -   Internode length range.—15-20 mm range, average 17 mm.         -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.         -   Mature canes.—circular in shape, 16 mm width.         -   Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—April 15 (Interlachen,             Fla.).         -   Time of beginning of flowering.—February 1 (Interlachen,             Fla.).         -   Time of fruit ripening.—50% March 29 (Interlachen, Fla.).         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—None claimed. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf color.—Upper — Pantone 19-0309, Lower — Pantone Oil             Green 17-0115.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Simple Alternate.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrated.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf apices.—Acute.         -   Leaf bases.—Acute.         -   Vein and petiole coloration.—Pantone Willow Green 15-0525.         -   Petiole length.—3 mm.         -   Fall leaf color.—Pantone Dark Red Brown 19-1526.         -   Evergreen.—No. -   Leaf dimensions:     -   -   Overall shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—63 mm-76 mm range, average 67 mm.         -   Width.—34 mm-40 mm range, average 38 mm.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrated with many nectaries, no visible             pubescence.         -   Leaf surface.—Smooth, upper and lower, no visible             pubescence. -   Leaf buds:     -   -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—7 mm.         -   Width.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Pantone Deep Red Brown, 19-1526. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower shape.—Urceolate.         -   Flower bud number.—Medium high.         -   Flowers per cluster.—7-8.         -   Flower fragrance.—light floral.         -   Corolla color.—Pantone Ice 11-4803.         -   Corolla length.—12 mm.         -   Corolla aperture width.—6 mm.         -   Flower peduncle.—3 mm.         -   Flower peduncle color.—Pantone Willow 16-0632.         -   Flower pedicel.—8 mm.         -   Flower pedicel color.—Pantone Willow 16-0632.         -   Calyx (with sepals).—3 mm in length.         -   Calyx color.—Pantone Sage 16-0421.         -   Stamen.—Length: 9 mm.         -   Number per flower.—10.         -   Filament color.—Pantone Buckskin 16-1342.         -   Style.—9 mm, top of ovary to stigma tip.         -   Color.—Pantone Sage 16-0421.         -   Pistil.—1 mm below corolla opening.         -   Ovary color.—Pantone Sage 16-0421.         -   Anther.—Length: 3 mm.         -   Number.—10.         -   Color.—Pantone Buckskin 16-1342. -   Pollen:     -   -   Abundance.—very good.         -   Color.—Pantone Winter White 11-0507. -   Fruit:     -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—Apr. 2, 2015 (Interlachen, Fla.).         -   Duration of ripening.—March 24-April 17, 23 days, 2015             (Interlachen, Fla.).         -   Yield.—5-6 lbs/bush.         -   Immature fruit color.—Pantone Herbal Garden 15-0336.         -   Berry color with wax.—Pantone Sapphire Shimmer 16-4028,             Spectramagic (L,a,b) — (38.74, 1.30, −1.30).         -   Berry color with wax removed.—Pantone Delft 19-4039.         -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone Frozen Dew 13-0513.         -   Berry surface wax abundance.—moderately heavy, persistent.         -   Calyx.—4 mm width; shape is 5 pointed with slight bridging             and slightly curved inward.         -   Berry weight.—2.9 grams/berry.         -   Berry size.—height 12.75 mm, width 18.36 mm, aspect (H/W)             0.8.         -   Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   Cluster density.—Very loose.         -   Detachment force.—easy.         -   Self-fruitfulness.—Fair, will need cross pollination for             maximum yield, earliness and size.         -   Fruit stem scar.—2 mm width, 0.5 mm depth, small and dry.         -   Berry firmness.—Medium firm, 203 g/mm.         -   Berry sweetness.—Brix° 10.8.         -   Berry acidity.—TA 0.34, pH 3.30.         -   Berry flavor and texture.—Very good, balanced sweetness and             acidity, crunchy and juicy texture.         -   Storage quality.—Medium, 2-3 weeks in refrigerated storage.         -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—good potential due to             firm fruit, bush shape and crown size, concentration of             ripening. -   Seed:     -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium.         -   Seed color.—Pantone Copper Brown 18-1336.         -   Seed dry weight.—NA.         -   Seed size.—1.5 mm.         -   Possible typical market uses.—Fresh and frozen markets,             processing into jams, puree, yogurt, dehydration. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plant named ‘BB07-7FL-4’ as described and shown herein. 